Joseph Hewes (FF 1078) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS JOSEPH HEWE MTHE SHIP E USS JOSEPH HEWES IFF-10782, a KNOX class escort ship, is the second ship of the fleet named in honor ofa patriot Whose position in the Continental Navy Was similar to that of the Secretary of the Navy today. The first ship named JOSEPH HE WES Was a converted merchant ship acquired by the United Sta tes in January 1942, which Was later sunk on 8 November 1942 by a torpedo from a German submarine off the coast of French Morocco. JOSEPH HE WES IFF-10782 was constructed byAvondale Shipyards, Westwego, Louisiana. The ship was launched on 7 March 1970 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Noel A.M Gaylor Wife of the Director of the National Security Agency. JOSEPH HEWES IFF-10782 was placed in commission on 24 April 1971 at Boston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, Massachusetts. The Honorable Hastins Keith, Republican Congressman ofthe 12th District, Massachusetts, was guest speaker. Commander Robert E. Klee, USM assumed command of JOSEPH HEWES that day. JOSEPH HE WES IFF-10782 has an overall length of 438 feet, extreme beam of 46 feet, 9inches,' full load displace- ment of 4,100 tons, and a maximum navigational draft of 26' feet. Her armament and equipment includes torpedo tubes in twin mounts, an Anti-Submarine Rocket KASROCQ Launcher, a 5 f54 gun mount, a Vulcan Phalanx Close In Weapon System KCIWSI, Harpoon, ANXSQS-26'CX Sonar, ANXSQS-35fVj Independent Variable Depth Sonar KIVDSQ, and the ANXSQR-18A KVj1 Tactical Towed Array Sonar K TA CTASQ. She is manned by 295 officers and men. ' 3

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., - ... ,...v... .... ...... JO EPH HEWE W THE MA U X ' W X l .x W t . 1 X W Josejigh Hewes was 'born 23 January 1730 in Kingston, New Jersey. After being apprenticed to a Philadelphia merchan tfhe established his own thriving mercantile and shipping business in Eden ton, North Carolina. He was elect- ed to the Continental Congress in 1774 and aided in the preparation of the Statement of Rights of the Colonies in spite of the effect upon personal fortunes in regard to non -importa tion. The following year he became a member and chairman of the Marine Committee. He thus provided the executive leaderhship in finding ways and means of procur- ing and outfitting ships of the Continental Navy. A man of tremendous labor, it was common practice to work 12 hours without interruption, even for food or drink. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Joseph Hewes died 29 October 177.9 at the age of 49. He was engaged in the work of the Continental Congress at the time of his death. y 2

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C0 DI G CDR GARY . LS Ii? 78 ff Vw! Commander Nelson grad ua ted from the Uni- versity of Minnesota in 1969 with aB.S. in Busi- ness Administration and received his commission via the NROTC program. His initial assignment Was in USS CHE VA- LIER IDD-8052 Where he served as Combat In- formation Cen ter Officer. Upon completion of the Destroyer Department Head course in Newport, Rhode Island he reported to USS MCKEAN IDD-7841 as Weapons Officer and later assumed duties as Operations Officer. In August 1973 he reported to USS TUSCALOOSA KLST-11872 as Engineer Officer. From March 1975 to March 1977 Commander Nelson Was a student at the Na- val Postgraduate School, Monterey, California Where he received a Masters of Science degree in Systems Technology. He returned to sea as Com- manding Officer, USS HI TCHI TI KA TF-1032 and served as such un til the ship Was decommis- sion ed in September 1978. His next assignment Was as Director of Officer Programs Recruit- ing and Executive OfHcer at Na vyRecruitingDistrict, San Francisco, California. Command- er Nelson then served as Executive Officer in USS DUNCAN KFFG-102 from November - ' 1981 to September 1983. Most recen tlyhe Was assigned to the Na val Sea Systems Command, Washington, D. C. as Program Manager and Fleet Introduction OfHcer for the Vertical Launch ASROC Program OfHce KPMS-4162. Commander Nelson wears the Navy Commendation Medal with four gold stars, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and various service and campaign ,medals He is married to the former Mary Wilberg of Anoka, Minnesota. They have four chil- dren: Christine, Steven, Brian and Jon. ,